PSALM 20 IN TIMES OF TROUBLE
"One Almighty is more than all mighties." William Grinnell
Psalm 20:1 In times of trouble (review 2 Samuel 10) - not perceived trouble,
but real, in your face trouble when the odds are stacked against you.
2 Samuel 10:2 The scene -- David - I am going to show complete loyalty to Hanun because of his father, Nahash. We need to watch whose voice we listen to. Nahash was hasty and listened to his advisors, who gave him bad advice.
Chapter 9 shows us that loyalty is a characteristic of David. i.e. Mephibosheth
would eat at David's table because of David's love for his father, Jonathan.
The world
V5 David responded, not by fueling the fire of anger, but by protecting their honor.
V6 The world - The Ammonites fear, and prepare for battle against God's people.
V12 Just "Be courageous! Let us fight bravely to save our people and the cities of our God. May the Lord’s will be done.”
The march of faith
V13 The Arameans begin to run away.
V14 Fear seized the Ammonites and they began to run.
The enemy regroups. David prepares for battle. His people pray.
They trusted God and He saw them through to victory.
When I ask for God's perfect will in my life, I need to expect victory, even if I don't
see it. God will turn the bad around for good.
Israel sings for her King.
1 Peter 2:9 "We are kings and priests and a royal priesthood."
As kings and priests, we can incorporate this Psalm into our walk.
This is how we should behave. This is teaching us how to prepare for spiritual battles that we face every day.
The enemy has gathered his allies, their plan of attack is in place. They have chariots and horses. They have more numbers, but we have the God of Jacob!
"He has made us a Kingdom of priests for God His Father. All glory and power to Him forever and ever. Amen.” Rev 1:6 - turns an act of kindness into a lie and embarrassment.A king will face trouble and distress.
·
He is adequate for every situation.·
He knows the dangers that lie ahead.·
He has wisdom to steer us through ALL of life's battles.·
Jacob was a
He is the Victory.·
manipulator·
schemer·
deceiver·
In his life he traded in deceit and trickery for trusting and worship.
Jacob learned to wait upon God.
V2 "May He send you help from His sanctuary and strengthen you from Jerusalem." His sanctuary – a place where we meet with God.
Psalm 73:3 " I envied the arrogant,... I saw the prosperity of the wicked."
Until V 16-17 "When I tried to understand all of this, it was oppressive to me."
Until
What we see with our eyes is often deceiving. When we enter the sanctuary of God, we get a glimpse of His perspective.
The sanctuary of God is where we see Him in His Word.
Your help comes from His Word, His Sanctuary.
Your strength comes from Zion (Jerusalem).
Zion/Jerusalem - another name for the kingdom of Israel -- made up of ministering angels to support the children of God. Ephesians 3:10
V3 May God look favorable on your burnt offerings --
Symbolic sacrifices looking to the cross.
The sacrifice of Christ paid our sin debt and allows us to access God in prayer.
"God showed how much He loved us by sending His one and only Son into the
world so that we might have eternal life through Him." 1 John 4:9
"I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood..." trickster.What we couldn't do for ourselves, Jesus did for us. We're standing under the
covering of His sacrifice for us.
Selah -- Interlude -- Stop and think!
Romans 8:32 “He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all –
how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things.”
What will God withhold from you if He willingly gave us His Son?
May He remember, based on Jesus’ sacrifice.
V4 “May He grant your heart’s desires and make all your plans succeed.”
When God cleanses our hearts of all sin – what is left?
His Will!
His plans for our lives.
Psalm 19:14 “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be
pleasing to You, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.”
Character is displayed in a crisis.
We stand on the foundation of obedience, faith, the wisdom of God (James 3).
The house built on the rock will stand!
A sandy foundation is built on a life of selfishness and wordly acts. James 3
It will crumble.
This is played out in 2 Samuel 10.
When the storm comes, we will shout for joy. We will lift up banners in the name
of our God.
V5 “May we shout for joy when we hear of your victory and raise a victory banner in the name of our God. May the Lord answer all your prayers.”
We will celebrate together –
Some on their knees in prayer, some supported.
Some stood by David’s/our side, some encouraged. Some were guarding
you, some shed their blood, some cried with you.
We all celebrate the Victory.
V6-8 The king responds to his people’s prayer.
Before the battle begins
·
his confidence is in his God·
his faith is on a sure foundation.Now I know
·
my Lord saves (I am His anointed. We are His anointed –sanctified.)·
my Lord answers·
V7 Some trust in chariots and horses - We boast in the Lord.
“As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15
Some will fall and collapse -
V8 A statement of faith - “Those nations will fall down and collapse, but
we will rise up and stand firm.”
David did not need chariots and horses, and we don’t either.
Ray Stedman’s definition of a Christian is “one who is completely fearless, continually cheerful – and constantly in trouble.”
We are His kings and priests, fighting the battles of spiritual warfare in our
world today.
I am not afraid – I trust in You! In the Name of Jesus!
Paul shares his testimony in Philippians 1:19-20.
“Whether by life or by death, may Christ always be exalted.”
You can’t lean on your family name.
You can’t lean on your money.
You can’t lean on your education.
You can’t lean on your personality.
You can’t lean on your ??????
Our faith and confidence has to be in God.
He will use the gifts and talents He has given us, but He alone is our source of
confidence.
V9 As you go out into battle –
We continue to pray.
We continue to seek God in your behalf.
We continue to trust.
We will stand in the gap for you.
In times of trouble –
God will protect us.
He will send us support from Zion.
He will have victory in life and in death.
And we will shout for joy and wave our banners in praise to God!
4
Who may climb the mountain of the Lord?
Who may stand in His holy place?
Only those whose hands and hearts are pure,
Who do not worship idols and never tell lies.
Psalm 24:3-4
Open up, ancient gates!
Open up, ancient doors,
and let the King of glory enter.
Who is the King of glory?
The Lord, strong and mighty;
The Lord, invincible in battle.
Open up, ancient gates!
Open up, ancient doors,
and let the King of glory enter.
Who is the King of glory?
The Lord of Heaven’s Armies –
He is the King of glory.
Psalm 24:7-10
my Lord rescues.How do we fight?
Psalm 20:1 "In times of trouble, may the Lord respond to my cry." We need to pray this for ourselves and for each other!
V1 May the name of God (of Jacob) protect you.
Philippians 2:11 "... and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of our God the Father.”
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